Five months after the Jammu and Kashmir government brought the state's Right to Information (RTI) Act on par with the Central Act, it is setting up its State Information Commission. According to government officials, while the state has begun its search for an official to head the State Information Commission, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is keen on Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah heading the organisation. In fact, officials said, Omar has also talked to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard.

Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibuallah will retire on September 30 next year when he attains the age of 65. Habibullah, however, said he will decide on joining as the Chief Information Commissioner for Jammu and Kashmir only when he gets a formal offer. “Let the offer come from the state government,” he said.

The state’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said the State Information Commission will start functioning shortly. The term of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Information Commissioner will be for five years—similar to the Central Chief Information Commissioner’s term.